This one course certificate meets the educational requirements for the CDCA: Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant Preliminary. Within this course, the following topics will be discussed: theories and fundamentals of addictive illness and physical/mental effects of psychoactive drugs; dynamics of substance related and addictive disorders on persons, families and society; knowledge of disease concept, stigmas, identification, assessment, trends in treatment and relapse process. Students will also develop insights, challenge biases and identify personal and professional issues and will learn elements of professional/ethical behaviors.